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Collins skeptical of Disclose Act

Sen. Susan Colllins (R-Maine), a leading proponent of greater
campaign-finance restrictions in the past, is taking issue with a bill
imposing transparency in political advertisements.

Collins is one of a dwindling handful of Republicans Democrats hope to
win over to support the Disclose Act, legislation the Senate will
likely consider this month aimed at blunting the impact of a Supreme
Court ruling lifting restrictions on corporate and union spending on
political advertisements.

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In a statement, Collins spokesman Kevin Kelley said Collins believes
the public has a right to know who is contributing to campaigns but
has concerns that the bill gives an unfair political advantage to
unions over corporations.

“While Senator Collins is still reviewing the DISCLOSE Act, she has
expressed concern that this legislation would move away from election
laws in this country that treat unions and corporations alike,” he
said. “The bill appears to provide a clear and unfair advantage to
unions, while either shutting other organizations out of the election
process or subjecting them to onerous reporting requirements that
would not apply to unions.”

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), another Republican Democrats had hoped
would vote for the bill, announced on Wednesday that he would oppose
it because he thought it gave Democrats an unfair political advantage
right before a potentially pivotal election. The office of Sen.
Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), another longtime champion of limits on
campaign finance, did not respond to a request for comment. She has
criticized the high court’s decision but has remained mum on whether
she plans to vote for the Disclose Act.

Democrats had hoped to pass the bill in both the House and Senate by
the July Fourth recess, but the measure faced unanticipated delays in the
House in the face of opposition from myriad groups, from unions to the
U.S. Chamber and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Democratic leaders added carve-outs for the NRA and the Sierra Club,
and Republicans have argued that corporations will be forced to
disclose their top donors in ads while some unions get a pass.

“Senator Collins also believes that it is ironic that a bill aimed at
curtailing special interests in the election process provides so many
carve outs and exemptions that favor some grassroots organizations
over others,” Kelley continued. “This too is simply unfair.”

In addition, Collins’s spokesman said the timing of the bill should
not take precedent to more pressing economic matters.

“Rather than rushing to change complex campaign finance laws mid-cycle
in a manner that clearly favors one political party, Congress should
remain focused on addressing the economic crisis and high unemployment
rate,” Kelley said.